Hypnotherapy

Hypnotheraphy

About Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is a state of deep relaxation with a heightened state of awareness.

Hi, I’m Vikki Heath and I’ve been practising as a full time hypnotherapist since 2003. My interest in hypnotherapy started when, as a fitness professional I could not stop smoking , I went to a local hypnotherapist and never smoked again, I couldn’t believe it, I never thought about smoking again. I then decided to train as a hypnotherapist so that I could help 1000’s of people stop smoking through hypnosis.

We treat many clients with hypnotherapy also known as ‘clinical hypnosis’ or ‘suggestion therapy’. It is a holistic resolution for many anxiety based problems. You will feel calm and relaxed in a very light hypnotic state, but you remain fully in control at all times during our sessions. Our clinic is based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire and we offer a friendly, relaxed and completely confidential environment for clients from across the region: Oswestry, Shrewsbury, Telford.

Problems Helped

Hypnotherapists have been working with people to help them resolve their issues for hundreds of years. We treat a very wide variety of symptoms, conditions, and emotional issues.

It works by resolving and removing the underlying causes of your problems whilst also building your self-esteem, self-belief and self-assurance, and leaving you with a sense of calm, relaxed confidence.

We have effectively treated people with the following list of symptoms by using our unique form of therapy hypnotherapy.

skin disorders

sexual problems

anorexia / bulimia

lack of confidence

stuttering / stammering

chronic fatigue

chronic pain

poor self image

smoking cessation

social fears

premature ejaculation

fear of intimacy

childhood trauma

sexual and physical assault

migraines

drinking

ME

IBS

OCD

fetishes

PTSD

blushing

anger

colitis

bruxism

panic

guilt

sweating

nightmares

slimming

compulsions

shyness

bedwetting

nail biting

amnesia

phobias

depression

inhibitions

vaginisimus

addictions

grief

neuritis

fears

obsessions

insomnia

paranoia

asthma

tension

allergies

thumb sucking

anxieties

shy bladder

hypertension

frigidity

tinnitus

If you find that your particular set of symptoms, difficulties or condition is not contained within the list above, please do not assume that we can not help you. We are so successful with such a range of issues that it would be impossible to cover them all in a simple list and we would encourage you to call us at ‘ Shrewsbury Hypnotherapist’ for a chat. We can also arrange for a free consultation to discuss whether we would be of assistance to you.

Everyone will experience feelings of anxiety and worry many times throughout their lifetime. For example, you may feel worried or anxious about a job interview, getting the results from a medical test, financial issues or even getting married.

Feelings of worry and anxiety are perfectly normal reactions to the daily pressures of life. However, for some people, these feelings of worry or anxiety can become intrusive in their lives, and may begin to affect them on a daily basis.

NHS Direct estimate that approximately 1 in 50 people will suffer with generalised anxiety disorder at some point during their lifetime. The condition is most likely to occur to people in their 20s and it affects slightly more women than men. It is a long-term condition that can make you feel anxious about a very wide range of issues, rather than your anxiety or fear relating to one specific issue. You may find that you are anxious most days and may not be able to remember the last time you were able to properly relax.

The NHS identifies the symptoms of anxiety as being many and varied, for example:

Feeling ‘on edge’

Restlessness

Sense of dread

Difficulty concentrating

Irritability

Impatience

Being easily distracted

Dizziness

Lethargy

Pins and needles

Irregular heart beat (palpitations)

Muscle aches

Dry mouth

Excessive sweating

Shortness of breath

Stomach ache

Headache

Diarrhoea

Excessive thirst

Frequent urination

Painful or missed periods

Difficulty in falling, or staying, asleep

Some people experience ‘panic attacks’ which can feel very frightening indeed, with people often describing how they thought they were going to die, usually of a heart attack.

There are also many diagnosable conditions for which anxiety is the main symptom. For example, panic disorder, phobias (for more info on phobias, click here), post-traumatic syndrome and generalised anxiety disorder. The content on this page will be equally relevant for someone who has one of these conditions, so please do contact us at Shrewsbury Hypnosis for a chat if you have any questions.
How Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Can Help

If you are suffering with mild anxiety that is related to a specific upcoming event, for example, if you are due to sit an examination or are due to have an operation, then hypnosis, combined with suggestion therapy will enable you to reduce your worry or anxiety and to feel more in control.

It will provide you with a greater sense of self; it will boost self-confidence and self-esteem; it will help you build on your self-belief and you will have a strong visual image of yourself being calm and self-assured in your upcoming event.

An added bonus is that hypnosis is wonderfully relaxing and reduces stress levels.

Here at Shrewsbury Hypnosis we have substantial experience of helping people to reduce their worries and anxieties in relation to specific events, and you would need just one session a week or two before the event in question.
Ongoing and Pervasive Issues with Anxiety

Perhaps your issues are more long term or pervasive and you have found that anxiety is having a limiting effect upon your life? Perhaps you are having panic attacks? Perhaps you are worried all the time and don’t understand why? Or perhaps you would like to remove and resolve all future issues in relation to your anxiety? In these circumstances it is likely that you would benefit most from a course of analytical hypnotherapy (pure-hypnoanalysis).

This type of therapy would provide you with all the benefits of hypnosis with suggestion therapy, whilst also helping you to fully resolve your anxieties, leaving you free to enjoy a more fulfilled and relaxed approach to life in the future. (For more info on pure-hypnoanalysis click here.)

At Shrewsbury Hypnosis we have found that anxiety can be very effectively treated using pure hypnoanalysis and issues can usually be resolved within 8 to 12 sessions.

Stress has always been a part of our daily lives, beginning with the fight or flight response we inherited from our early ancestors. Many of our stresses are natural everyday responses to situations where are bodies react in a somewhat stimulated way.

This type of stress could be viewed as ‘positive’ or ‘necessary’ stress because without it we would probably lead quite inactive, dull and directionless lives. As James Tighe (from BBC Health) points out:

Stress in itself isn’t necessarily harmful. Everyone needs goals and challenges. But too much can be damaging.

In our current society, people are increasingly experiencing too much stress, or what could be called ‘negative’ stress. This is the type of stress that can make you feel overwhelmed and jittery. Stress is a well-known trigger for depression and it can also affect your physical health.

There are a limitless number of triggers for stress, however the following are generally accepted as being in the top dozen: any sort of loss, from bereavement, divorce and separation to a child leaving home; long-term illness and disability; marriage; moving house; a new job; holidays and work.

The symptoms of negative stress are well known to us, and include:

Increased irritability

Heightened sensitivity to criticism

Signs of tension, such as nail-biting

Difficulty getting to sleep and early morning waking

Drinking and smoking more

Indigestion

Loss of concentration

We all have a level of stress, including negative stress, which is manageable for us. This level will vary from person to person and is dependent upon a number of factors, for example, self-confidence and self-esteem, stability of lifestyle and relationships, unresolved issues from our past. So, as long as we keep our stress levels below our individual limit, we are likely to be able to function effectively. However, if we are operating at our individual limit all the time, any additional stress (even something very small) may tip the balance and move us from a position of experiencing a manageable level of stress, to a situation where we are feeling completely overloaded or out of control.

What is important when thinking about our stress levels is the degree to which our response to a certain trigger has been either appropriate or disproportionate. Equally important to consider is the degree to which stress is beginning to seep into all aspects of our lives.

How Hypnotherapy Can Help

If you are suffering with stress that is related to a specific event, for example, if you are due to make a long journey or perhaps you are in the middle of a particularly busy time, then hypnosis, combined with suggestion therapy will enable you to reduce your stress levels and to feel more relaxed and in control.

It will provide you with a greater sense of self; it will boost self-confidence and self-esteem; it will help you build on your self-belief and you will have a strong visual image of yourself being calm and self-assured. Hypnosis is well documented as being wonderfully relaxing and effective at reducing stress levels.

Here at Shrewsbury Hypnosis we have substantial experience of helping people to reduce their worries and stress in relation to specific events, and you would need just one session a week or two before the event in question.

Ongoing and Pervasive Issues with Anxiety

Perhaps your issues are more long term or pervasive and you have found that your stress levels are having a limiting effect upon your life? Perhaps you are not sleeping well at night? Perhaps you are constantly having arguments with those around you? Or perhaps you are beginning to take significant time away from work due to your high stress levels? In these circumstances it is likely that you would benefit most from a course of analytical hypnotherapy (pure-hypnoanalysis) to resolve the underlying issues that are aggravating your stress levels.

This type of therapy would provide you with all the benefits of hypnosis with suggestion therapy, whilst also helping you to fully resolve the issues which are affecting your ability to cope with your daily stressors, leaving you free to enjoy a more fulfilled and relaxed approach to life in the future.

Stop smoking easily at the Shrewsbury Hypnosis centre using hypnosis – Quit those cigs in just 1 hour – with a therapist trained by Europe’s top Anti-smoking Hypnotist and Hypnotherapist, Robert Kelly- at the Shrewsbury Hypnosis Clinic. (For more info about Rob Kelly click here)

Rob Kelly has stopped over 5000 smokers using an amazing technique that he has developed, at his hypnotherapy clinic in Cambridge. It is just SO EASY to stop, using his method. Rob has trained about 400 other hypnotherapists in this technique also. He uses a combination of suggestion therapy, visualisation and positive thinking to make stopping smoking as easy as possible.

Over 95% of the 5000 (verified success rate) smokers he has helped to quit, gave up easily after just one session.
Background

A couple of years ago the largest study ever conducted into stopping smoking was undertaken (in the U.S.A.) It studied everything from will-power, nicotine patches, positive thinking, placebos, chewing gum etc – and the conclusion was that:

“Most techniques turned out to be hopeless, Hypnosis however came out as the most effective anti-smoking technique.”

The above comment was based purely on ‘suggestion therapy’ (normal hypnotherapy). However, Rob Kelly built on the simple suggestion therapy hypnosis session: he took insights from his vast analytical-therapy experience, fused them with visualisation techniques, positive thinking and applied psychology. This is why his Easy Smoking Cessation sessions have such impressive results:

With Rob’s powerful Smoking Cessation techniques, 95% of smokers find it easy to quit – in just one session.

Why do YOU want to quit?

You might think that by quitting you would; live a little longer, feel a little healthier, get nagged a little less from your partner or kids, save a few quid, or have nicer smelling breath.

The trouble is……….and here is the problem……….. none of those reasons bring immediate rewards i.e. You don’t feel healthier/ fitter/ richer/ nicer smelling/ less nagged, the day after quitting smoking. (or the next day, or week, or even month).

That doesn’t sound like a good deal to me! – give up something I love, and in five years time I may just feel a little healthier!

No wonder people often get stressed, moody, stroppy, angry and depressed when they quit smoking by willpower alone. People want their rewards and benefits NOW – not in five/ten/twenty years time.

Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation is so successful, because you do receive immediate rewards for your efforts;

you feel an intense sense of pride and satisfaction

you receive an immediate boost to your willpower

you gain a huge amount of confidence in your ability to remain a non smoker

situations that used to make you feel stressed or anxious, now just relax you

….this list could go on and on and on……

Ask yourself this:

If you received a fantastic sense of well-being, calmness, pride and satisfaction every time you got yourself in a situation where you used to have a cigarette, why would you EVER want or need to smoke again ?

“If you live in or around Shrewsbury, Telford and Oswestry, you can now stop smoking EASILY in just one session – using unique hypnosis and hypnotherapy techniques”

What Happens in the Hypnotherapy Smoking Cessation Session?

The actual session lasts about one hour – a forty minute ‘talky bit’, followed by a 20 minute hypnosis session. During the ‘talky bit’ your belief system will be challenged (the way you think and feel about smoking); you will be asked many questions (some quite personal) and the therapist will get you to think differently about smoking. Through challenging your beliefs about why you smoke, and learning to see the whole smoking business from a totally different perspective (Warning: much banter and humour may be employed during this part of the session!) you will be well on your way to being a non-smoker.

The hypnosis element will ‘clinch the deal’ so to speak: you will find yourself feeling relaxed, calm and confident that you are a non-smoker and you will not need to substitute anything for your old need to smoke – the old need has simply gone: you are a non-smoker.

To book an ‘Easy Smoking Cessation’ with us at Shrewsbury Hypnosis, please call now, on 01939 291988
Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Will I be ‘under’, or ‘out of control’ during the session?

A. No. You will be relaxed, in a very light state of hypnosis…..fully alert and fully in control at all times. You can speak, move, open your eyes or do anything else you would like to do…. you DO NOT have to be in a ‘stage hypnosis’ type of trance – just a very light, relaxed state.

Q. Why is your success rate SO MUCH HIGHER than most other therapists?

A. A number of reasons really:

We run the session very differently to most other suggestion-only hypnotherapists and focus on very different topics

We help the client to change their BELIEF SYSTEM – to that of a NON-SMOKER… and as a non-smoker, it is very easy to stop smoking.

Most importantly of all, we don’t approach stopping smoking from the same view point as ‘normal’ hypnotherapists.. we are analytical hypnotherapists by profession, and have taken many thousands of people through ‘therapy’. Taking people through therapy gives (the therapist) tremendous insight into WHY we have habits, phobias and other symptoms. We use these insights into the unconscious motivations BEHIND smoking cessation, to eliminate the habit at an unconscious level.

Q. Do you offer any sort of ‘Guarantees’, or ‘money back if it doesn’t work’?

A. No, we don’t offer any guarantees – and no professional therapist should. YOU need to accept some responsibility for YOUR smoking habit, and YOU need to put some effort in if you want to stop – nobody can do it for you. We will help you a great deal, but cannot do it for you.

There is NO MAGIC to hypnosis or hypnotherapy – it can HELP you to achieve many things in life, but none of these things can be guaranteed, because it depends on how much effort YOU, the client, puts in. Where hypnotherapists do offer ‘money back guarantees’ or ‘free back up sessions’, they are being unethical, unprofessional and not helping you at all.

Q. Why do you, and other hypnotherapists, charge so much more for a smoking cessation session, than other symptoms you treat?

A. An ‘Easy Smoking Cessation’ session, the way we do them, is the most involved type of hypnotherapy session that we run. It involves far more time, preparation, effort, skill, experience, character-assessment, insight and general hard-work, than any other symptom or condition that we treat. That is why it costs more. If you don’t think stopping smoking would be worth £250 to you, then please read no further, for you are wasting your time!

Q. What happens if I stop smoking, but start again in six months time?

A. This is very unlikely to happen: when we help people to stop smoking, we help them to change their belief system about smoking as well, which means they become ‘non smokers’ not ‘ex-smokers’. If you did go back to smoking, there would likely have been some big emotional trauma that precipitated it. In this situation, we would speak with you about whether it was sensible to have another session.

Q. Is every smoker suitable for this treatment?

A. Yes, unless they have a history of psychoses.

Q. Will I need gum, patches. placebos, Zyban or anything else to help me?

A. No. Nothing.

Q. I have been to another hypnotherapist before and it didn’t work – would it still be worth it coming to see you?

A. Yes, the techniques we learned from Rob Kelly are TOTALLY different to most other approaches to smoking cessation.

Q. Why do you insist on clients paying cash for smoking cessation?

A. Part of the reason you will stop when you come and see us, is because you will have a tangible reason to stop. A lot of emphasis is placed upon what is tangible and not tangible. A cheque, or a credit card slip, is not tangible, and might affect your commitment; cash is tangible, it is real… this helps to focus your attention

Q. Do I need to put in any effort?

A. Yes you do. There is NO MAGIC to hypnosis – it is an AID to you, it will HELP YOU, but it WILL NOT do it for you. You need to pay attention during the session, you need to be honest during the session, and you need to put some effort into the session. We have a SUPERB success rate – but you do need to put some effort in.

There is an increasing number of people who have issues with eating, drinking and weight control in our society.

The BBC Word News reported (2nd January 2008) that:

“People are getting fatter almost everywhere in the world”. They stated that “obesity is a modern problem – statistics for it did not even exist 50 years ago. The increase of convenience foods, labour-saving devices, motorised transport and more sedentary jobs means people are getting fatter.

The World Health Organization predicts there will be 2.3 billion overweight adults in the world by 2015 and more than 700 million of them will be obese.

In response to what some describe as the ‘obesity epidemic’, there are now an overwhelming number of diets and ‘magic cures’ advertised in the media and on the internet, but unfortunately many of them simply do not work. This is because they fail to address the very reasons why you have issues with food and drink….

How Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Can Help you – whether you live in Shrewsbury

The majority of people who have issues with their eating and drinking also have a variety of other issues which impact upon themselves, some of these may be listed below:

Poor self- confidence

Low self-esteem

Poor, and/or factually inaccurate self and body image

Lack of, or weak willpower

Guilt

Boredom

High stress levels

Loneliness

Lack of exercise

‘Portion distortion’ – the name being applied to our lack of awareness of correct portion sizes in our ‘super-size’ culture

Hypnosis and hypnotherapy are more effective interventions for weight loss, and eating and drinking issues, as they aim to address and minimise unhelpful beliefs and issues.

Hypnosis, combined with suggestion therapy will enable you to move on from unhelpful thought patterns within just one session. It will provide you with a greater sense of self; it will boost self-confidence, willpower and self-esteem; it will help you build on your self-belief; you will become more consciously aware of what and when you are eating and drinking, thereby enabling you to become more in control; you will have greater motivation for exercise and you will have a strong visual image of yourself as a successful person who is in control if their eating and drinking.

An added bonus is that hypnosis is wonderfully relaxing and reduces stress levels.

Eating Disorders or Serious Issues with Eating or Drinking

If your eating or drinking are more serious, then you are not alone: Disordered-eating.co.uk report that at least 1.1 million people in the UK are affected by an eating disorder, with young people in the age-group 14-25 being most at risk of developing this type of illness.

Mind:
As many as one woman in 20 will have eating habits which give cause for concern; most will be aged 14 to 25 years old.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists:
Girls and women are 10 times more likely than boys and men to suffer from anorexia or bulimia.

The Independent on Sunday:
An investigation into the problem of eating disorders revealed that at least 1 percent of women are affected by eating disorders.

Beatcurrently believes the number of people receiving treatment for anorexia or bulimia to be near to 90,000, while many more people have eating disorders undiagnosed, in particular those with bulimia nervosa.

If you have a more serious long term problem with your eating or drinking, or perhaps you have an eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia, then it is likely that you would benefit most from a course of analytical hypnotherapy (pure-hypnoanalysis).

This type of therapy would provide you with all the benefits of hypnosis with suggestion therapy, whilst also helping you to fully resolve your issues with eating and self-image, leaving you free to enjoy a more stable and relaxed approach to eating and drinking.

Understanding Emetophobia or Fear of Being Sick

Emetophobia is known by many names (emetephobia, phagophobia, vomitophobia, vomit phobia, sickness phobia, fear of vomiting, fear of gagging, fear of swallowing, fear of choking, globus hystericus), but whatever you call it this condition can affect sufferers deeply. There are also a number of other fears that can be associated with a fear of being sick:

Gagging

Seeing others being sick

Choking on food

Pregnancy (due to the possibility of morning sickness)

Drowning

Social phobia

This is a condition that appears to affect more women than men and if you are someone who suffers with emetephobia, you will know only too well that the symptoms can seriously affect and limit your ability to enjoy life to the full as this condition can have a very disabling effect on the sufferer.

Many sufferers will avoid all places where there is a possibility of themselves, or others, being sick: for example pubs, restaurants, clubbing, eating in front of others. Due to the link between eating and potentially being sick, many sufferers are a little obsessive about what, where and with who they will eat. Many view being sick as ‘horrible’, ‘dirty’, ‘yucky’ etc, and so it is quite common for emetophobics to also have fears of other situations where they might feel the same way: going to the toilet, urinating in front of others (e.g. at a public urinal – shy bladder), or even just being a little bit sweaty.

How Analytical Hypnotherapy Can Help

A course of analytical hypnotherapy (pure-hypnoanalysis) would help you to fully resolve all issues relating to your fear of being sick, leaving you free to lead a life without symptoms in future. It would also provide you with a greater sense of self; it will boost self-confidence and self-esteem; it will help you build on your self-belief and you will find yourself being calm, self-assured and confident in situations where previously you may have experienced your most severe symptoms.

An added bonus is that hypnosis is wonderfully relaxing and reduces stress levels.

Here at Shrewsbury Hypnosis , we realise that when you speak to us it may be the first time you have discussed your fear of being sick. We will help you to feel at ease so that you feel comfortable and free to talk about your symptoms in a safe and friendly environment. We understand how difficult it can be to talk about emetephobia and to seek help, but if you would like to rid yourself of emetophobia and resolve any related emotional issues forever, we are confident that we can help you.

Here at Shrewsbury Hypnosis we have substantial experience of helping people to rid themselves of emetephobia and related symptoms using pure hypnoanalysis and find that symptoms usually disappear within 8 sessions (though sometimes it can take up to 12 sessions to completely resolve issues)

Social anxiety and social phobia affect an enormous number of us to some extent or another. It is very likely that some, if not many, of the following list will be familiar to you:

Don’t like being put ‘on the spot’

Find it very difficult to talk publicly or to give presentations

Find large groups of people intimidating

Find it difficult to make friends

Lack confidence in social settings, being shy

Find parties and small talk difficult

Suffer with pre-exam or pre-test nerves

Try and stick to the rules

Sense of being watched

Find talking on the phone difficult

Frequently blushing, stuttering or stammering

Find maintaining eye contact with people difficult

Hiding, or keep yourself below people’s level of perception

Fear of being judged, criticized, mocked or rejected

Shy bladder (not wanting/able to urinate in public urinals)

Sexual performance issues (e.g. impotence, premature ejaculation)

Feel as though people may find out that you’re a fraud

For many people social anxiety and social phobia creates significant problems in their lives, often without them knowing the root cause. The issues created via social anxiety and social phobia can seep out into every aspect of your life: perhaps you choose to live alone, or begin to avoid social interactions; you lack confidence in your abilities and your lack of confidence creates difficulties on your work; you fail to get appointed to jobs you are more than capable of doing due to your lack of faith in yourself and this leads to others questioning your abilities too; you may dress in dull or dark colours to try and hide yourself, or perhaps you over-eat as a way of avoiding unwanted attention and/or flattery; you don’t challenge others in order to avoid conflict; or you may be chronically insecure about your relationships with others which can progressively undermine even the strongest of relationships.

There are few statistics about the extent to which people suffer with social anxiety and social phobia, and those that are published come with hefty health warnings about the likely inaccuracies. What we do know though is that almost everyone, at some stage in their life will experience feelings related to social anxiety.

Social-anxiety.org.uk state:

Millions of people around the world suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder (also known as Social Phobia) and related conditions. Despite being the most common type of anxiety disorder and the cause of much impairment and suffering, it is under-recognised and under-treated.

However, perhaps because by its very nature sufferers of Social Anxiety are reluctant to talk about their problems or seek help, the condition is still not widely known amongst the general public, and was only recognized as a disorder in its own right as recently as 1980.

How Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Can Help the people of Shrewsbury, Telford and Oswestry

Perhaps there is an upcoming event that they would like specific help with. For example, you may be due to take your driving test (again!) and don’t want to fail it due to nerves; or perhaps you are due to give a presentation to your team at work and are dreading it. For these types of issue, hypnosis, combined with suggestion therapy will enable you to reduce your anxiety and feel more in control.

It will provide you with a greater sense of self; it will boost self-confidence and self-esteem; it will help you build on your self-belief and you will have a strong visual image of yourself being calm, self-assured and successful in your upcoming event.

An added bonus is that hypnosis is wonderfully relaxing and reduces stress levels.

Here at Shrewsbury Hypnosis we have substantial experience of helping people to reduce anxieties over specific events and you would need just one session a week or two before the event in question.

Ongoing and Pervasive Issues with Social Anxiety or Social Phobia

Perhaps your issues are more long term or pervasive and you have found that social anxiety or social phobia is having a limiting effect upon your life? Or perhaps you would like to remove and resolve all future issues with social anxiety? In these circumstances it is likely that you would benefit most from a course of analytical hypnotherapy (pure-hypnoanalysis).

This type of therapy would provide you with all the benefits of hypnosis with suggestion therapy, whilst also helping you to fully resolve your issues with social anxiety and social phobia, leaving you free to enjoy a more fulfilled and relaxed approach social interactions in the future.

At Shrewsbury Hypnosis we have found that social anxiety and social phobia can be very effectively treated using pure hypnoanalysis and issues can usually be resolved within 8 sessions.

What are Fears and Phobias?

There are probably very few of us that do not have any fears or phobias, even if it’s as simple as being a little fearful of spiders, or perhaps liking to sleep with a little light shining somewhere nearby as the dark is not comfortable. Many such fears are manageable and the majority of us experience them at some point in our lives with little impact.

However, some people have fears of phobias that limit their opportunities in life: the person with a fear of flying may find being in a plane uncomfortable, however someone with a more serious fear, or phobia, of flying may completely avoid going on, or perhaps even seeing, an airplane; equally, someone with a fear of open spaces may avoid large parks, fields and sports grounds, however someone with a more serious fear, or perhaps agoraphobia, may never leave their house.

Below is a list of the more common fears and phobias that we get consulted about:

Spiders – Arachnophobia

Flying – aviatopophobia

Water – Hydrophobia

Heights – Acrophobia

Enclosed spaces – Claustrophobia

Open spaces – Agorophobia

Crowds – Demophobia

Darkness – Nyctophobia

Dentists – Odontophobia

Speaking in public – Glossophobia

Needles – Aichmophobia

Death or dying – Thanatophobia

Being sick – Emetophobia or Emetephobia (may also be known as phagophobia, vomitophobia, vomit phobia, sickness phobia).

Defecating (either alone, or in earshot of others), stools and losing bowel control – Coprophobia, or Corporophobia

The list of fears and phobias is endless as people really can be fearful of anything in their thoughts and lives so please don’t think that we can’t help you if your fear or phobia is not listed above. What is important is that, if your fear or phobia is having a negative impact upon you, or if it is limiting your full participation in life, or if your fear or phobia is becoming more severe and is beginning to dominate your life then it is probably time to do something about it and take steps to rid yourself of your fear or phobia.

How Hypnotherapy Can Help

Perhaps there is an upcoming event that they would like specific help with. For example, perhaps you want to go on holiday, but have a fear of flying and want help to get you onto the flight; perhaps you have a fear of spiders and are about to go camping and want some help to reduce your anxieties in relation to spiders; or perhaps you have a fear of dogs and are soon to go and stay with a friend who has a dog. For these types of issue, hypnosis, combined with suggestion therapy will enable you to reduce your fear or anxiety and to feel more in control.

It will provide you with a greater sense of self; it will boost self-confidence and self-esteem; it will help you build on your self-belief and you will have a strong visual image of yourself being calm and self-assured in your upcoming event.

An added bonus is that hypnosis is wonderfully relaxing and reduces stress levels.

Here at Shrewsbury Hypnosis we have substantial experience of helping people to reduce fears and phobias over specific events and you would need just one session a week or two before the event in question.

Ongoing and Pervasive Issues with Fears and Phobias

Perhaps your issues are more long term or pervasive and you have found that your fear or phobia is having a limiting effect upon your life? Or perhaps you would like to remove and resolve all future issues in relation to your fear or phobia? In these circumstances it is likely that you would benefit most from a course of analytical hypnotherapy (pure-hypnoanalysis).

This type of therapy would provide you with all the benefits of hypnosis with suggestion therapy, whilst also helping you to fully resolve your issues with your fear of phobia, leaving you free to enjoy a more fulfilled and relaxed approach to all circumstances in the future. (For more info on pure-hypnoanalysis click here.)

We have found that fears and phobias can be very effectively treated using pure hypnoanalysis and issues can usually be resolved within 8 sessions.

People who are confident and self-assured tend to be those who are naturally sociable, who achieve success in their chosen profession or career and who take full advantage of all opportunities that come their way in life.

People are attracted to confident people and enjoy spending time in their company: they tend to be happier and more relaxed, and are often easier to be with than those who lack self-confidence and self-esteem.

Many of us will suffer with a lack of confidence at some point in our lives and this is only natural (see section below on how hypnosis can help), however for some people this lack of confidence is an almost constant backdrop in their lives.

Life can be quite challenging for those who have poor levels of self-confidence, self-belief and/or self-image. For example, making and keeping friends can be difficult; socialising in large groups may create anxiety or worry; going for job interviews may be problematic; speaking on the telephone may not be easy; even buying new clothes may be stressful. For this group of people, there are likely to be unresolved issues from their past that are undermining their confidence levels on a daily basis.

Many of the features, and the impact, of low self-confidence mirror issues associated with problems such as anxiety, stress, and social phobia and it is likely that many people who have low self-confidence also suffer aspects of these other difficulties.

How Hypnotherapy Can Help

If you are experiencing a lack of confidence over an upcoming event, for example, you are due to give a best man’s speech, or you are going to a party where you won’t know many people, or maybe you are looking to change your job, then hypnosis, combined with suggestion therapy will enable you to increase your belief in yourself and your self-confidence, enabling you to feel more proficient and in control.

It will provide you with a greater sense of self; it will boost self-esteem; it will help you build on your self-belief and you will have a strong visual image of yourself being calm and self-assured in your upcoming event.

An added bonus is that hypnosis is wonderfully relaxing and reduces stress levels.

Here at Shrewsbury Hypnosis we have substantial experience of helping people to reduce their worries and anxieties in relation to specific events, and you would need just one session a week or two before the event in question.

Ongoing and Pervasive Issues with Low Self-Confidence

Perhaps your issues are more long term or pervasive and you have found that your low self-confidence is undermining your success and opportunities in life. In these circumstances it is likely that you would benefit most from a course of analytical hypnotherapy (pure-hypnoanalysis).

This type of therapy would provide you with all the benefits of hypnosis with suggestion therapy, whilst also helping you to fully resolve the issues that have lead to your low self-confidence, leaving you free to enjoy a more fulfilled, relaxed and self-assured approach to life in the future. (For more info on pure-hypnoanalysis click here.)

We have found that confidence issues can be very effectively treated using pure hypnoanalysis and issues can usually be resolved within about 8.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is thought to affect as many as one in five of the population at any one time. Its symptoms can vary from person to person, but typically one or more of the following symptoms may be experienced:

Constipation

Diarrhoea

Bloating (that may subside overnight, only to return the next day, and may occur after eating a meal)

Flatulence

Abdominal pain or cramps

may, or may not, be reduced by passing a stool

may be specific to the lower right side or tucked up under the right ribs

tucked up under left ribs, or if the pain is particularly bad it may move into the left armpit

Anxiety and stress-related symptoms, which may interact with the gut symptoms

IBS is a condition that is often hidden by the person experiencing its symptoms. The media is certainly trying to move us towards a point where we are more comfortable talking about bloating, stomach cramps, constipation or diarrhoea, however, if you suffer from the condition, you will know how difficult it can be to talk about what can be very embarrassing symptoms. For example, how do you tell the person interviewing you that you are suffering with severe flatulence? How do you explain to the coach driver that you need to stop for the toilet (again, having only been 5 minutes previously)? How do you leave in the middle the funeral to find a toilet? Or how do you tell your new partner that you dare not go on a trip in case you have a bout of IBS?

If you are someone who suffers with IBS, you will also know only too well that the symptoms can seriously affect and limit your ability to enjoy life to the full. It is the severity and frequency of symptoms that can be most troublesome and intrusive for sufferers and it is a condition that can be notoriously difficult to treat successfully.

Despite this, there are many cures and treatments recommended by the ‘experts’ and these include a large number of medications and herbal treatments (e.g. for diarrhoea, constipation, cramps and flatulence or bloating); dietary changes and restrictions; exercises – different types of exercise seem to be in vogue at different times (e.g. yoga is currently experiencing an elevated status as the exercise ‘cure’); and lifestyle changes or restrictions.

However, the disappointing reality for IBS sufferers is that of the many treatments listed above, which are variable and often disappointing in their treatment outcomes, all aim to treat the symptoms, rather than removing or resolving the root cause of the IBS. This will mean that the person will always likely to have a susceptibility to IBS, the symptoms of which could be moderated with treatments, but that may always return.

How Analytical Hypnotherapy Can Help the people of Telford, Shrewsbury and Oswestry

A course of analytical hypnotherapy (pure-hypnoanalysis) would help you to fully resolve all issues relating to IBS, leaving you free to lead a life without symptoms in future. It would also provide you with a greater sense of self; it will boost self-confidence and self-esteem; it will help you build on your self-belief and you will find yourself being calm, self-assured and confident in situations where previously you may have experienced your most severe symptoms.

An added bonus is that hypnosis is wonderfully relaxing and reduces stress levels.

Here at Shrewsbury Hypnosis we will place you at ease so that you feel comfortable and free to talk about your symptoms in a safe and friendly environment. We understand how difficult it can be to talk about IBS and to seek help, but if you would like to rid yourself of IBS and resolve any related emotional issues forever, we are confident that we can help you.

Here at Shrewsbury Hypnosis we have substantial experience of helping people to rid themselves of problematic IBS and related symptoms using pure hypnoanalysis and find that symptoms usually disappear within 8 sessions.

N.B. Before engaging in any course of treatment, it is advisable to seek medical advice to ensure all other possible causes of your symptoms have been ruled out.

You would normally hear or read about obsessive behaviours and disorders being linked with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is a diagnosis widely used within the mental health profession. However, in the IAPH, we have found it more helpful to separate compulsive behaviours from obsessive behaviours as their impact upon people’s lives and the way in which they are experienced is very different.

As a rule of thumb, a compulsive behaviour is one that is undertaken, often with little thought, on impulse or with a sense of having been ‘driven’ to it, and instant relief is felt. There may be some feelings of guilt or shame felt afterwards, but immediate gratification is felt at the time. (For more info on compulsive behaviours and disorders click here.)

For obsessive thoughts and behaviours, this sense of relief is often never achieved. The person is likely to focus excessively on the issue at hand, often becoming totally preoccupied by it; they can find themselves involved in repetitive cycles of behaviour which provide little or no relief, and sometimes activities are carried out to ensure something else (often something bad) does not happen.

The types of Obsessive Thoughts, Behaviours and Disorders Treated Successfully with Hypnotherapy

Obsessive thoughts and behaviours can range from simple everyday behaviours such as tidiness (e.g. placing all food tins in the cupboard with the label facing outwards) to counting numbers or doing sums in their head to the point that they can think of nothing else.

With all obsessional thoughts and behaviours, it is the degree to which the issue is preoccupying your time and/or limiting your life that is important. For example, someone who worries about dirt or contamination may simply wash their hands carefully, maybe try and avoid using public toilets, or perhaps ensure they do not touch doors or handles in public toilets even if this means waiting a long time for someone else to open the door so they can nip through ‘untouched’. However, place this same person under stress and they may begin to wash their hands obsessively and for some people this may become ritualistic to the point that their hands are never clean enough to leave their house.

The following list is not exhaustive, but covers the more common obsessive thoughts and behaviours that have been treated successfully using pure hypnoanalysis:

Being overly jealous or possessive over a partner

Eating issues (e.g. avoiding certain foods, anorexia)

Constant worry about something

Sleeping problems (e.g. insomnia)

Paranoia

Excessive exercise

Continual negative thoughts

Intrusive thoughts

Constant counting

Excessive tidiness

Rituals (e.g. ‘if you don’t walk on the cracks in the pavement, nothing bad will happen’, if you bump one side of your body you have to match it in the other to ‘even yourself up’, always checking locks a certain number of times)

Please do not be put off if your particular issue has not been identified in the list above: obsessive thoughts, behaviours and disorders are so varied and often specific to the individual that it would be impossible to list them all here. What is important to realise is that it is the underling reasons for the behaviour that is significant and it is this that is treated with hypnotherapy, rather than the precise behaviours themselves. If you have any doubts, please contact us at our practice for a discussion.

How Hypnotherapy Can Help

Many people who have obsessive thoughts and behaviours will try and hide them from others, perhaps thinking that people won’t understand or may judge them for it. Here at Shrewsbury we have many years of experience working with people to help them resolve their obsessive patterns of thinking and behaviour and you will find us to be open, friendly, helpful and completely non-judgmental in our approach.

With pure hypnoanalysis, you will be able to rid yourself of these unwanted thought patterns and behaviours successfully via a course of hypnotherapy (between 6 to 10 sessions) with a professional qualified in pure hypnoanalysis.

As an added bonus, in addition to be free from your previous obsessive behaviours, after a course of hypnotherapy using pure hypnoanalysis you will also have a greater sense of self; increased self-confidence, self-esteem, and belief in yourself; AND of course hypnosis is wonderfully relaxing and reduces stress levels.

You would normally hear or read about compulsive behaviours and disorders being linked with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is a diagnosis widely used within the mental health profession. However, in the IAPH, we have found it more helpful to separate compulsive behaviours from obsessive behaviours as their impact upon people’s lives and the way in which they are experienced is very different.

As a rule of thumb, a compulsive behaviour is one that is undertaken, often with little thought, on impulse or with a sense of having been ‘driven’ to it, and instant relief is felt. There may be some feelings of guilt or shame felt afterwards, but immediate gratification is felt at the time.

For obsessive thoughts and behaviours, this sense of relief is often never achieved. The person is likely to focus excessively on the issue at hand, often becoming totally preoccupied by it; they can find themselves involved in repetitive cycles of behaviour which provide little or no relief, and sometimes activities are carried out to ensure something else (often something bad) does not happen.

The types of Compulsive Behaviours and Disorders Treated Successfully with Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy

Compulsive behaviours can range from simple everyday behaviours such as shopping to more reckless behaviours such as self-harming. One of the issues with compulsive behaviours is that most of them undertaken to excess can have very damaging impacts on people’s lives: the compulsive shopper may find themselves heavily in debt or even bankrupt, while the compulsive self-harmer may place their life in jeopardy on a regular basis.

The following list is not exhaustive, but covers the more common compulsive behaviours that have been treated successfully using pure hypnoanalysis:

Please do not be put off if your particular issue has not been identified in the list above: compulsive behaviours and disorders are so varied and often specific to the individual that it would be impossible to list them all here. What is important to realise is that it is the underling reasons for the behaviour that is significant and it is this that is treated with hypnotherapy, rather than the precise behaviours themselves. If you have any doubts, please contact a professional hypnotherapist, trained in pure hypnoanalysis, for a discussion.

How Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Can Help

Many people who have compulsive disorders and behaviours find themselves feeling a little out of control or driven by factors they can not understand. Sometimes people may feel a little ashamed or guilty about their compulsive behaviours and therefore avoid seeking help.

However, with pure hypnoanalysis, help is at hand and you can rid yourself of these unwanted thought patterns and behaviours successfully through a course of hypnotherapy (between 6 to 10 sessions) with a professional qualified in pure hypnoanalysis. (For more info on pure-hypnoanalysis click here.) At Shrewsbury Hypnosis we find that we can usually help someone resolve their issues with compulsive behaviours in about 8 sessions.

As an added bonus, in addition to be free from your previous compulsive behaviours, after a course of hypnotherapy using pure hypnoanalysis you will also have a greater sense of self; increased self-confidence, self-esteem, and belief in yourself; AND of course hypnosis is wonderfully relaxing and reduces stress levels.

Hypnosis with Suggestion Therapy

(Also known as clinical hypnosis)

Suggestion therapy is what most people (including references in the press and on television) are referring to when they talk of ‘hypnotherapy’.

Suggestion therapy is exactly as is sounds: you will be relaxed into a very light hypnotic state (most people don’t even feel ‘hypnotised’) and whilst you are in this lovely, calm relaxed state, the therapist will give you some very positively-worded suggestions that will affect whatever symptom(s) you are consulting about. As well as the positive suggestions, you will be taught how to visualise the outcome you desire and you will be given strategies to think and act more positively.

For example, if you were consulting for driving test nerves, you would be given suggestions such as ‘you are going to feel calm, relaxed and in full control, during your driving test’; you would then be guided you through your driving test (whilst you are in the hypnotic state), practicing your driving skills in a calm and relaxed way. In effect, you would be ‘rehearsing’ the outcome that you DESIRE (passing your test in a relaxed and confident manner) rather than ‘worrying about what might go wrong’.

On leaving the session (usually only one session is needed) you will be feeling very positive, calm and relaxed, and feeling very differently towards whatever situation or event you were consulting for.

Suggestion therapy has short-term effects (usually lasting a few weeks to a few months) and hence isn’t really a life-changing therapy. It IS incredibly powerful, and can be incredibly effective, but usually just for a few weeks. For this reason, this type of therapy is ideally suited to treating the more simple problems and symptoms such as stopping smoking, exam nerves, nail biting, pre-test nerves, flying anxiety, general relaxation, confidence boosting, wedding speech nerves, dentist nerves and slimming (although for long-term weight reduction or weight issues, pure hypnoanalysis is recommended click here for more info on pure hypnoanalysis or weight loss). Suggestion therapy is usually effective immediately, and hence only one or sometimes two sessions would be required.

A session of suggestion therapy with us at Shrewsbury Hypnosis costs just £70.

Successful Hypnotherapy Training Course

The Successful Hypnotherapy Training Course is the only course of its kind in the world. It teaches hypnosis, hypnotherapy and a remarkable new and effective form of therapy, pure-hypnoanalysis.

Background

The Successful Hypnotherapy Training Course has been provided to students since 1981. Since its early beginnings, it has been developed and has evolved into the exciting course it is today. Over 7000 hypnotherapists and hypnoanalysts have been trained using Successful Hypnotherapy from across the world.

This unique course is inspiring and empowering to students and the topic of pure-hypnoanalysis is fascinating. Pure-Hypnoanalysis can only be found within the Successful Hypnotherapy Training Course and is currently practiced solely by members of the IAPH.

Style of Learning

Studying the Successful Hypnotherapy Training Course can fit easily into anyone’s lifestyle as it is a distance learning course. This means that it can be studied in the comfort of your own home, at your own pace and to fit in with your schedule.

The course is delivered via written and audio-visual material. An online support and advice group is available to give you up to date information at the hit of a button and students also have access to ongoing advice and support from the course Director.

There is a requirement for an exam to be taken at the end of the studies to ensure the required standard for successful completion of the course has been reached.

Additionally, learning is supplemented through attendance of some in-house training on subjects the student and the course Director identify as meeting their learning needs. Many subjects are covered by the in-house training team of the IAPH and they are delivered throughout each year.

Outcomes

On successful completion of the training course, students will not only have the knowledge and skills to establish themselves in practice as a professional Hypnotherapist and Hypnoanalyst, but they will also be eligible to become a member of the International Association of Pure Hypnoanalysts (IAPH).

Course Content

The Successful Hypnotherapy Training Course has been designed to equip those wishing to practice in the field of Hypnotherapy and Hypnoanalysis with everything they will need to be both professional and effective in their work. A multitude of subjects are covered within the course, a selection of which are listed below: